Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-12-24
could. be omitted without danger or
fraud, Just as now the tax on spirits ex-
ported are being RENTED,

paw" = oSAA0
"Besides your general and sweeping
opposition to the presidents recommen-
dation, have you any further specific OBJ
jection?"
Eyes" answered Mr.. Blaine "I should
seriously object to the repeal of tho duty
on wool. To repeal that would work
great injustice to many interests, and
would discourage what we should earn
estly encourage, namely, the sheep cul-
ture among tho farmers throughout the
Union. To break down the wool grow
ing and be dependent upon foreign coun-
tries for the blanket under which we
sleep and the coat that covers our backs
is not a wise policy for the national gov
eminent to enforce"
"Do you think if the presidents re-
commentators were adopted it would
increase our export trader"
POSSIBLY, in some fow articles Of Pc
culiar construction it might, butt would
increase our import trade t0ntold as
much in the staple fabrics, in wooden and
cotton goods, Ill iron, in steel, in all the
thousand and shapes Ill which they
are wrought. How are we to export
staple fabrics to the markets of Europe
unless We make them cheaper than they
do in Europe, and how arc we to manu-
facture them cheaper than they do in
Europe unless we get cheaper labor than
they do in Europe?'
"'Then you think the question Of labor
underlies tho whole subiect?"
"Of course it does" replied Mr.. Blaine.
"Itis, in fact, the entire question. When
ever We can torco carpenters, masons,
ironworkers and mechanics in every de-
partment to work as cheaply and live as
poorly in tho United States as similar
workmen in Europe, we can, of course,
manufacture just as cheaply a. they do
in England and France. But 1 am total
ly opposed to a policy that would entail
such results. To attempt it is equivalent
to a social and financial revolution-one
that would bring untold Distress"
eyes, but might not the great farming
class be benefited by importing articles
from Europe instead Of buying them at
higher prices at homer"
"The moment answered Mr.. Blaine,
''you begin to import freely from Eu-
rope you drive our own workmen from
mechanical and manufacturing pursuits,
i'll the same proportion they become TIL
lers of tho soil, increasing steadily the
agricultural product and decreasing
steadily tho large homo demand which
is constantly charging as home manu-
facturers enlarge. That, of course, works
great injury to the farmer, Cutting the
market with his products and tending
constantly to lower prices"
"Yes, but the foreign demand for farm
products would DO increased in q like
ratio, would it not"
Given suppose it were,' said Mr.,
Blaine, chow do you know the source
from which it would be supplied? The
tendency in Russia today and the
Asiatic possessions Of England is toward
a large increase Of the grain supply, the
grain being raised by the cheapest posi-.
BILE labor. Manufacturing countries will
buy their breadstufls where they car
get them cheapest, and the charging OF
the homo market for the American far.
mer being checked, he would search in
vain tor one of the same yalu,. His
foreign sales are already checked by the
great competition abroad. There never
was Il time when the increase of q large
home market vas so valuable to him
Tho best proof is that the farmers are
prosperous in proportion to the near
ness of manufacturing centers, and {
protective tariff tends to spread manu-
factories. In Ohio and Indiana, for OK
ample, though not classed AZ manufac
turing states, the annual value OF fabrics
is larger than the annual value of agri
cultural productions"
"But those holding the president.
ylews," remarked the reporter, 'are al
ways quoting the great prosperity Of thu
country under the tariff of 1S47."
"That tariff did not involve the one de
structiyc point recommended by tn
president, namely, tho retaining ofdirec
internal taxes in order to abolish the in
direct taxes levied OH foreign fabrics
But tho country had peculiar advantage
under it by the Crimean war. inyolyin4
England, France aud Russia, and Target,
impairing thoir trade. All these Incl
dents, or accidents, ii you choose, wer'
immensely stimulating to trade Ill tn,
United States, regardless of the nature o
our tariff. But mark the end of the Flu
ropean experience with the tariff of 1S4t
which, for q time, gave an illusory an
deceptive show of prosperity. Its enact
ment was Immediately followed by tn
Mexican war; thon in 1913 by the grea
conYulsions Of Europe; then in lS49 all,
succeeding years by the gol
yield i'll California. The powers mad
peace in 1856, and ut the same time til
output of gold Ill California fell Off. In
mediately the financial panic Of lS5
came upon the country with disastrou
force. Though We had in these year
/ mined a vast amount of gold in Califo,
mia, every bank in New York was CON
I PEELED to suspend specie payment. Fou
hundred millions in gold had been ca
, ried out of the country in eight years
. pay for foreign goods that should la,
been manufactured at home, and we la
years Of depression and distress as a II
/; suit Of our folly. 1t is remarkable TIL
t President Polk recommended the tart
I of 1916 on precisely the same groune
: that President Cleveland recommends
similar enactment now, namely, the su